Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Giveaway with a Little Help from our Friends in Beads 2011

"Friends, you and me...you brought another friend and then there were three.We started our group, our circle of friends, and like that circle there is no beginning or end."~Eleanor Roosevelt

Art Bead Scene is like that ever-widening circle of friends.

Every time someone joins as a follower, comments on a post or participates in a monthly challenge, the circle gets wider. And using art beads makes the circle grow deeper, expanding exponentially so that the relationships within this community are strengthened.

As a designer, I am always looking to the Art Bead Scene to introduce me to new art and art bead artists. There is something so special about using art beads in your work. You can see the hand of the maker all over each piece, and to hold one is to hold a tiny treasure that is suitable for display in any gallery. And every time you use an art bead, it is like adding another ripple to the circle, because often by using them you become more than just a buyer, a client, a number to the maker...you become a friend.

There is just one place that I go each year to find new art bead artists to start a friendship with, and that is the annual buyer's guide called Beads presented by Beadwork magazine.

I always cheer when I see the issue released as it truly is inspiring to see all of the best and brightest beads in one location. If you cannot make it to a bead show, then Bead 2011 is the next best thing. Over 330 new beads along with 15 projects by extremely talented designers is the focus. And with tools and trends explored along with ads for stores you may know about and some that may be new, this publication is always something that I hang onto for a long time.

This issue jam-packed with awesomeness and it is heavy on the art beads, which I particularly love. Since there were so many art beads all in one place, Art Bead Scene had a perfect opportunity to celebrate, especially since five of our contributing editors had pieces included in the issue. So, what is a party without treats? I put out a call to as many of the artists and companies that I could find and asked them to contribute to a giveaway in honor of all the beady goodness that is Beads 2011. I was overwhelmed by the response, and after fondling, er... admiring all the tiny packages that came my way, I can tell you that I honestly wish that I had the chance to win.

Danielle Fox and her staff have outdone themselves and rounded up tips, trends, tools and more to kick start your creativity. There are ten different trends happening in this issue and we have an artist or company in the giveaway to go with almost all of them. Just look at what you could win:

So clean up that puddle of drool on your computer and enter to win this massive beady prize! Since I love to spoil my friends, you have three ways to enter, and each must be in a separate comment to count.

Chance #1: Answer one of the following questions:

Which trend are you most excited about from the ten in the issue?

If you have a copy of the issue, what is one bead artist that was new to you that you are most intrigued by and can't wait to try?

What is the reason that you use art beads in your designs?

Chance #2: Blog, Facebook Tweet, skywrite, take out a billboard or otherwise share your love for this giveaway to the rest of your world, then come back here and tell us what you did.

Chance #3: Here at Art Bead Scene, we consider our followers part of our circle of friends. You don't have to be a follower of the Art Bead Scene to win, but if you are a friend who follows us (nearly 1,900...that is some growing circle!), post a third comment for an additional chance.

I will choose a random winner of the entire prize package at midnight on May 30th and announce it during the monthly ABS challenge blog hop on May 31st.

Oh Erin I was tickled pink to see you among the "top ten" and it makes my heart glow to see all the wonderful artists I have coveted get such well deserved honors. I have to say that I am so ready to incorporate my love of seed beads with all of the gorgeous art bead designs available so in answer to question 1 I am excited about all of them! (except maybe for the wire as that is a scary pairing...me + wire = craziness)

I couldn't decide on which trend I was most excited about, but the reason I like using art beads is that I will be helping promote the artists' work, plus my creations will be unique and possibly become something to pass down from generation to generation.

Erin, You have made such a wonderful presentation of the Art Beads for this Giveaway. I am so proud to be a part of this celebration. As a participant in the giveaway I don't want to be counted in the drawing. Just wanted to let you know how awed I am with your post!!!!

Art beads lend a whimsical and creative touch to my designs. I am just blown away by the creativity and imagination of the artists. Every time I see a new bead on your blog, it's eye candy for me. It's hard to imagine the world before art beads!

I am a follower of the ABS blog, and I love the inspiration I get from reading it! I also love shopping the ABS etsy shop, I have gotten some very nice things there. I use art beads in my jewelery, because I love the look and the apeal it adds to my work..and it makes my finished projects one of a kind!

Chain and FIber: Materials with Texture.I love art beads because they are handmade, take precious time and love to make, and give your jewelry piece uniqueness. Plus, they are fun to collect and get to know the artist behind the work.

wow, I am so excited about this giveaway...such a generous, glorious pile of bounty! I love using art beads, whether made by me or other fabulous artists - it makes for a much more unique piece of wearable art!

All of the bead selections are wonderful!I am drawn to the Woodlands:Beads au Natural,the colors and artwork is connected alot to my self and the way I live.I have posted this comment,plus info about the give-away on Facebook.I am going to be alot of praying until the end of May,if I won,I think it would give me the incentive to Blog!This is the best giveaway I've ever entered.Thanks!

I just signed up as a follower. I love beads and I use them on my Fiber Arts pieces. I don't get a chance to travel to many bead shows and bead shops are limited in my area...but I do keep up with Mary Kaye, who both teaches bead making and also makes beautiful things. I found it hard to choose but I think my favorite theme of beads is the Woodlands, as it covers all things nature. I have posted a link for your blog on my Fiber Arts blog, which is http://beachgrannyart.blogspot.com/

Boy, would winning this collection put a "WOW" in my bead collection and in my Fiber Arts pieces.Ann Myzarctoo@aol.com

Since I answered everything in one post...just breaking down original post (more chances to win)...I am a new follower...and have spent the last 50 minutes going back and reading and viewing your older posts. I have bookmarked this site.Ann Myzarctoo@aol.com

As a first (but certainly not last) time visitor, I have to say that this post inspires me.Puddle of drool, indeed!

Raw materials, (in this case, these art beads) can serve as such a powerful form of inspiration. The materials represent the potential for the future and final piece that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Thanks for the beautiful eye candy this morning! Time to run to the studio :)

Wow, that is some giveaway! The contributing artists have been amazingly generous.

I don't know that I could choose a single category I'm excited about! Maybe Items to Personalize - I like my work to be uniquely mine and use a lot of mixed media and non-traditional materials when I can so items to personalize sounds like it would work well with what I like to do best!

I cleaned the drool, and clear my eyes. Sure I want to be the winner. To say there are great prizes is an understatement. I use art beads (my own polymer clay made beads) because that makes the piece of jewelry unique.

I use art beads in my jewelry, because they go with my style. They are a little work of art all their own. And I want every part of my jewelry to be one of a kind, handmade, and to come together into a new work of art.

Excuse me while I go get yet another stack of paper towels, to mop up the drool!! Receiving this package in the mail would be like dying and landing in bead heaven! As far as the trend(s) I am most excited about, those would be the floral, woodlands and chain and fiber trends. Of course I would also throw in the customizable and sentiments trends as well, since I use all these themes in my work. Thank you for this opportunity!

In answer to Question#3: I use art beads in my creations because I love to support fabulous artists who create beautiful, lovingly-handcrafted bits of art. I find that it is a win-win for both of us... both of us prosper! The art bead creator not only receives my money, but because my creations grow and have stories of their own, free advertising and beady-love as well. I, in turn, am viewed as an artist with integrity and who creates beautiful art because I am able to weave such fine materials into a beautiful whole.:)Amy-Sprite

An absolutely amazing giveaway. I love and use and make art beads because they are unusual and different and beautiful. I love that somebody has sat and created something from beginning to end, they add so much more to a design that something made on a machine!

Oh my word! My heart is pounding at the thought of so much awesome stuff! I use artbeads because they are not mass produced, and often one of a kind. I hate using the exact same stuff as everybody else, (so boring) plus I like to support these great artists rather than a big factory in china someplace.Erin S

I use art beads because they always enhance whatever it is I am beading. The color determines the color of beads, the type of stitch, whether the piece will be a necklace or a bracelet, or perhaps a pair of earrings. Plus, because an art bead is handmade by another artist, it gives me a sense of connection.

I like using art beads in my designs for a couple reasons. First, I like to support the artists. I enjoy making a connection with them. If we don't support each other, we'll all fall down.Second, I like to make one-of-a-kind necklaces, so, a one-of-a-kind art bead is a super way to do that! There are endless possibilities.

Oh, yes! Please enter me in the contest. Love it all. My favorite would be hard to pick b/c I am so crazy about all this stuff. That's why I'm so unproductive, too! HA!Thanks for this awesome giveaway!

I love Art Bead Scene and am a proud follower! My Chance #1 answer is: Customizable: Items to Personalize! I am very excited about this trend. Using art beads in a design make that design one-of-a-kind. Take it up a notch and make it a personalized one-of-a-kind design... the recipient of that design will FREAK OUT.(kind how I am freaking over this amazing giveaway!!!!)

Oh my, decisions decisions! Kudos to all the designers who are featured in the issue. What a generous giveaway - thank you Erin. I've been using art beads f.o.r.e.v.e.r. They just add that special touch to a design made by someone who loves their craft and allows me to truly design one-of-a-kind pieces. I really like all the categories.

I think I may have passed out when I read all the way to the bottom and saw that 1 person gets all of those fabulous beads!I use art beads because they set my jewelry apart from those simply stringing beads on wire. They take your pieces to the next level and support other artists and that's a good thing :-)Shannon C

I am torn in re: what trend I am most excited about...I do mostly bead weaving and see great potential to include the lovely lampworked headpins like the "five iridescent kaleidoscope headpins from Raida Disbrow at Havana Beads of the Glam: Beads with Sparkle trend. I can see them providing a focus or dimension that my beadweaving pieces sometime need...but I also just adore the amazingly detailed little ceramic and metal pieces like Kylie Parry's ceramic blue owl and the mixed media metal pendants by Jenny Friske-Baer of Divine Spark Designs in the Woodlands: Beads au Naturel

I have a love for art beads because it ties together my love for Art and my love for beads! When I first got into jewellery making, I wandered around quite aimlessly for a time, trying to find my niche and then I stumbled upon Art Bead Scene and it all began to make sense...to fall into place. It's fabulous to be able to go one step further than just putting components together to make something pretty...to actually involve myself in the creative process that one step further brings a whole new meaning to "hand made".

I bought this magazine and just had to find out who made the cute glass owl bead on the cover. I contacted Sandra (of beads nest) and corresponded with her a bit and found out that she is one of the nicest people! I have used many of the art beads by the artists who were featured in the magazine and I love using them because it is nice to have unique pieces to work with. Please enter me in the (AWESOME!) giveaway! Thanks :)

I'm most excited about the Customizable: Items to Personalize trend. I admire all of the artists featured and would use any of the beads pictured, but having the opportunity to make them personal to me is super cool. Art Bead Scene is awesome!!

I like to use Art Beads and love all art because I feel that it carries with it a very powerful talisman. They are very special and hold within them the joy, love, dreams and imagination of their artists. When I find a fingerprint in clay or paint it always gives me a chill. swopemelmel@aol.com

What an unbelievable give-away! I can't even imagine what I could do with all these beautiful beads and goodies. . .but I'd love to try! :)

To me, using art beads adds so much character to a design. The artist's personality really comes through, as well as their love of what they do. Art beads are all one of a kinds, and I love picking them out. . .one, by one!

As a new follower, I am really excited to explore the blog and learn from you and your current followers... I class myself as a fairly new beader/jewelry maker, I have a lot to learn. Still finding my style etc,.

The prize package is amazing... what a bundle, mixture of mediums... a person could really do a lot with those treasures.

What is the reason that you use art beads in your designs? Because you, my ABS friends, and those that participate in the monthly challenges, have shown me how incredible they are, and make pieces one of a kind!

wow...is all I have to say. I found this link through a friend on facebook and am now a follower. I also saw a friend of mine...Yvonne from MyElements and am off to look at Havana Beads and their fantastic head pins. And I must say I will be looking at so much more. Your pictures are so wonderful and more inviting than the magazine's

What wonderful beads!! I have bought from almost all of these designers and what they have made well the Bring it! I am also a follower!I use Art beads bc theyre just so Unique! I make my Own Lampwork beads and I Love it as the Skys the limit!

I am new to the blog found you from a post thru Jess. I have been using Art beads for quite sometime and they simply do lend themselves to keeping your designs unique and fresh, even if someone buys the same Art bead as you, no two ever come out the same